Audi A4 TDi automatic - multitronic or DSG?.

[DarkMatter]

I've heard that the 'multitronic' gearbox which was introduced to the A4 TDi around 2002 was dropped in favour of the twin clutch DSG box at some point, maybe 2007/2007.

Can anyone confirm this, and give a more specific date on when the change occurred?

Thanks, Andrew.

[DarkMatter]

Thanks LeoSayer and TameTechnician for your advice. I've read here that some people have had problems with their multitronic gearbox, has the 7 plate clutch improved reliability?

[DarkMatter]

Thanks for your advice, I think I'll avoid a multitronic.

It's not essential that I buy an auto, I currently drive a manual 2001 A4 130 TDi Sport (48.5 mpg average over 78k miles), but quite fancy the benefits of driving an auto when in traffic jams. My original intention was to go for an A3 TDi DSG which I hoped would give me the ease of an automatic with the control of a manual, but having driven some I was disappointed with the higher engine noise levels compared with my A4, so that's why I considered the the A4 multitronic.

I've also considered a BMW 1 series auto - there seemed to be less engine noise than the A3, but other PH'ers don't seem to get very good mpg, probably because it uses a conventional auto box. I think maybe I need to look at the A3 TDi DSG again.

[DarkMatter]

I've become confused with regard to the automatic gearboxes which I may find on a 2006/2007 A4 2.0 TDi. I was under the impression that the only auto box available was a multitronic which is in effect a CVT, originally a 6 speed, but more recently a 7 speed, and that later ones have a 7 plate clutch.

Having looked at used 2006/2007 2.0 TDi autos on the Audi website I have seen some advertised as 6 speed auto and others as 7 speed. Some are also called multitronic and others CVT.

On reading a Parkers review it says the A4 2.0 TDi was available with a six-speed automatic and a seven-speed CVT.

Can someone who knows clarify the situation with regard to these gearboxes? Is the six-speed auto a conventional torque converter/fluid flywheel type, and is the CVT the multitronic, and were they both an option at the same time?

Apart from the possible reliability issues with the multitronic, which is the preferred gearbox to have?

Thanks!

[DarkMatter]

Thanks for your help.

So if I have understood you all correctly...

An A4 Quattro automatic will have a torque converter box.

An A4 2.0 TDi automatic will have a CVT (aka Multitronic) box?
And that these CVT boxes, depending on the age of the car, may be specified as 6 speed or 7 speed when in tiptronic mode?
And finally the later CVT boxes had 7 plate clutches instead or 6 plate.

Slightly off topic - do the DSG gearbox clutches need to be replaced eventually, how many miles might they typically last, and what might the cost be to replace.

Thanks again for your patience!